Sparcrer



(No Model.) I

C.- M. RAIFBNSPARGER. AUTOMATIC RAILROAD SIGNAL. No. 287,961 Patented Nov. 8, 1883.

/ l jizz/@M017 Q WFT/"be A- 7 Y" UNITED STATES loIInIs'rIAN M. Y.eminenterAIni'EE,v or nANovEn, rENNsYLvANIA, AssIeNon on ONE-HALE To e. MILTON BAIE, or sAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC RAlLRO-AD-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentdNo. 287,961, dated November 6, 1883.

Application tiled February 12, 1883. (No model.)

Railroad-Signals, of which the following is av specification. y

My Invention is designed for use at railroadcrossings to indicate the approach of a train,

` and is of that class of signals in which the signal is given or operated by the engine as it approaches a crossing;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of a section of arailroad-track intersected by a crossing, showing the application of the invention and the ysignal in position to announce the approach of a train. Fig. 2 1s a top or plan view, showing the same i'eatures. Figs. 3 and 4 are views showing on enlarged scale certain details ol' the invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in the respective gures.

A A are the rails of the track, the cross-ties being shown by c. The crossing is shown by B. .,At some distance from the crossing a lever, b, is hinged to a cross-tie or an",T other stationary object adjacent to the rail, said lever, when in position for operation, standing vertically.

The lever b is made in two sections, the upper one, b', being hinged "to the lower by a j oint, b, situated at that side of the lever which is most remote from the` crossing. VA shoulder, b, prevents the deflection of the section b except in onedirection--viz., that indicated by (the arrow. A spring, c', is placed .on the lower section ofthe lever facing the joint, for a purpose hereinafter described. The entire lever b, including the upper and lower sections, is capable of movement on its hinge c by a passing train vonly in direction of the crossing, the movement of the lower section in the opposite direction beyond the normal point, as shown in Fig. 3, being prevented by the side of the tie or other object to which it is hinged.

The lower end of the lever b extends into a pit or well, d, in which it is freeto move. To the said lower end of the lever b is attached a chain, c, which may be run through a trough be unobstructed. The trough or pipe extends to within a short distance of the crossingsay twenty to fifty yards-at which point it ter- VIninates, and the chain c connects with a bar 5 5 or rod, f, which niayfor some portion of its length be suitably supported by rollers or other devices, enabling it to slide longitudinally.

To a tie or other stationary object contiguous to the crossing is pivoted a staff or stand- 6o ard, C, on which a flag, g, .is mounted as a signaling device. As shown in Fig. l, the signal indicates that the engine has passed the lever b, the signal being thrown up to a position to bring the flag about midway of the crossing.

The lower end of the signal statt or standard is squared, as shown, a plate-spring, h., being on the under side, and a similar spring, h', at

the inner side of the tie or other object to y l which the staff is pivoted, said springs, by en- 7o gaging the squared end ofthe staff, maintaining it in an inclined position, as indicated.

The upper section oi' the lever b is provided with a rod, Z1, loosely .pivot-ed toits top and extending from the crossing, the end or ter- 5 urination of said rod being free and capable of longitudinal movement.

The inode of operation is as follows: The leverb being in avertical position, the staff Gis in substantially a horizontal position, the en- 8o tire signaling device prop er, consisting of the stati` and flag, beingbelow the level of the track. A projection, 1'., is attached to the pilot of the engine, which projection, on the engine app roaching the crossing, strikes the rod b4 and gradu- 8 5 ally depresses the lever b, drawing on the chain c and rod f and elevating the staff or standard C, whereby the ila-g is brought directly in the way oi' the crossing, indicating that the train is near at hand. tinuing toward the crossing, the proj ection i'. from the pilot strikes and rides upon the rod f, forcing down Vthe signal-stadand again bringing the lever b to a vertical position, ready to be operated by the next train approaching A the crossing from the direction of the lever. To allow the passage of a train from the contrary direction without elevating the signalstaff, the lever b is made with an upper hinged section,r` which may be deiiected against the 10o' spring c to break the shock of the impact.

It will be understood that the devices here- The train con- 9o 2 Y Y 287mm v J K f inbefore described serve only to signalthe api proach of a train from one direction. A similar combination of parts is therefore attached to the opposite side of the track, the conditions of arrangement of Which are, as Will be readily seen, the reverse of those described.

I do not restrict myself to the use of a staff having a rlag at its end, as any device having enough area to make it sufficiently conspicuous for the purpose of a signal may be substituted.'

It is believed that this invention affords a simple, effective, and cheap appliance for the purpose, and that its use at crossings will resultin much saving of life and property. At many crossings a railroad company is not justiied in employing labor for signaling purposes,

and the object of my invention is to supply an automatic appliance which may be relied 2o upon as an elicient substitute.

The spring arrangement described as placed at the base of the signal-staff may be omitted, and, if preferred, the staff may extend below the pivot and be Weighted.

I claim as my invention- In an automatic railroad-signal, a jointed lever and' a signal-staff connected thereto, adapted to be depressed and set by passing trains, combinedwith devices, connected, respectively, to the lever and staff, for breaking the shock of impact of the train thereon, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set f my hand and affixed my seal this 6th day of February, 1888.

CHRISTIAN n. RAFFENSPARGER. [L 5.] 

